May 19, 2020 — For the past three months, much of Hawaii’s longline fishing fleet, the one that normally stocks the state’s markets and restaurants with fresh poke, ruby red ahi and slabs of swordfish, has been tied up in port as the coronavirus ravages the islands’ economy.
With tourism all but shut down due to Hawaii Gov. David Ige’s 14-day quarantine and restaurant service reduced to takeout for social distancing purposes, there’s less demand for fish.
Prices have dwindled to the point where going out on the water can be more expensive for fishermen than the price of the catch coming in.
State and federal governments have done little to help out, despite the fact that fish are a critical source of protein for the islands’ residents.